Close menu

Why Do Students Freeze During Exams? Understanding the Causes and How to Overcome Them

Exams: Stress Freeze Panic

3D illustration of a student experiencing brain freeze during an exam, with a frozen brain in a thought bubble, symbolizing exam anxiety and cognitive overload.

Introduction

Many students have experienced it: you’ve studied hard for an exam, but your mind suddenly goes blank when you sit down to take it. This frustrating moment is called “freezing under pressure.” But why does it happen, even when you know the material? Let’s look at the reasons behind it—like exam anxiety and feeling overwhelmed—and how you can prevent it from happening.

Why Do Students Freeze During Exams?

1. Exam Anxiety:

One of the biggest reasons students freeze during exams is exam anxiety. This type of anxiety happens when you feel a lot of pressure to perform well. In stressful situations like tests, your body’s “fight-or-flight” response kicks in, releasing stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones can make it harder for your brain to recall information. Studies show that stress affects the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, decision-making, and memory. When you’re stressed, your brain focuses on survival instead of recalling information, which can lead to a mental block.

2. Feeling Overwhelmed:

Too Much Information at Once Another reason students freeze is cognitive overload—when the brain has too much information to handle at one time. Trying to remember everything quickly during an exam can overwhelm your brain’s working memory, which is the part of the brain that holds and processes information. Under pressure, the brain can become overwhelmed and “choke,” meaning it struggles to focus on the task at hand. This is especially common when students try to remember too much at once.

3. Negative Thinking:

Negative Thinking: “I’m Going to Fail” Students who go into an exam with negative thoughts—like believing they will fail—are more likely to freeze. This kind of thinking creates extra stress, which makes it even harder for the brain to recall information. Students who doubt themselves during exams are more likely to experience mental blocks. Negative thoughts can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, making it harder to succeed.

4. Lack of Sleep:

Sleep is very important for your brain, especially for memory. If you don’t get enough sleep before an exam, it can affect both your short-term and long-term memory. Even if you studied hard, being tired can make it hard for your brain to access what you’ve learned. Sleep-deprived students have trouble recalling information. All-nighters, in particular, can make freezing during exams more likely.

You're almost done! 80%

How to Avoid Freezing During Exams

Understanding why you freeze is helpful, but knowing how to stop it is even better. Here are some tips:

    1. Practice under exam conditions: Try to simulate exam conditions while studying to get used to the pressure.
    2. Relaxation techniques: Techniques like deep breathing and meditation can help reduce anxiety.
    3. Break information into smaller pieces: Study in chunks to avoid overwhelming your brain.
    4. Use positive self-talk: Remind yourself that you are prepared and capable.
    5. Get enough sleep: Make sure to rest well before the exam to help your brain consolidate what you’ve learned.

Conclusion

Freezing during exams is a common experience, but understanding why it happens can help you avoid it. By managing exam anxiety, avoiding cognitive overload, and practicing positive thinking, you can improve your exam performance and prevent freezing.

Train your Brain Memory Focus

Need Help Managing Exam Anxiety? We’re Here to Assist!

If you or your students are struggling with exam anxiety or experiencing brain freeze during important tests, we can help. Our personalized brain training programs and workshops are designed to improve focus, memory, and mental resilience under pressure. Contact us today to learn how we can support you in boosting your cognitive performance and overcoming test stress.

References:

  1. Vytal, K. E., Cornwell, B. R., Letkiewicz, A. M., Arkin, N. E., & Grillon, C. (2013). The complex interaction between anxiety and cognition: Insights from spatial and verbal working memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 142(1), 12-22.
  2. Beilock, S. L., & Carr, T. H. (2004). When high-powered people fail: Working memory and “choking under pressure” in math. Psychological Science, 16(2), 101-105.
  3. Putwain, D. W., Connors, L., & Symes, W. (2010). Do cognitive distortions mediate the test anxiety-examination performance relationship? Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(3), 532-544.
  4. Walker, M. P., & Stickgold, R. (2006). Sleep, memory, and plasticity. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 139-166.
  5. Zeidner, M. (1998). Test anxiety: The state of the art. Springer.